2k booked on day 1 of lockdown in Chennai

CHENNAI:A 12-day lockdown without previous relaxations kicked in on Friday here and cases were filed against 2,400-plus people for violations and nearly 2,000 vehicles seized as police deployed drones and intensified patrols to ensure effective implementation of curbs.

While arterial roads to neighbourhood streets were deserted, police placed barricades at key intersections and blocked free access to several main thoroughfares in the city and suburbs.

Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan inspected city locations to oversee vehicle checking and implementation of curbs.

The top official said cases were filed today against 2,436 people here for violating curbs and 1,997 vehicles were seized. Also, cases were filed against 989 people for not wearing masks and nonmaintenance of social distancing.

The lockdown is operational in Chennai city and suburbs located in the nearby districts of Chengelpet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur but fall under the jurisdiction of Greater Chennai Police.

Curbs are also being implemented in localities including Gummidipoondi and Ponneri in Tiruvallur district and Chengelpet municipality areas and such areas are not under the domain of city police.

The lockdown was clamped in view of continuing surge in virus cases here and in nearby districts.

Of the 2,115 fresh cases on Friday, Chennai accounted for 1,322 and as regards total cases, the state capital’s share was 38,327 out of the aggregate 54,449 positive cases in Tamil Nadu.

Chengelpet and Kancheepuram have 3,432 and 1,001 cases respectively and Tiruvallur’s case count stood at 2,291.

Shops selling essentials including vegetables functioned from 6 am to 2 pm and private vehicles and autos, taxis were off the roads.

Only some cargo trucks and vehicles related to essential services could be seen plying on roads and other key highways like the GST and GNT Roads in Chennai’s southern and northern periphery.

Under the lockdown, only essential services are allowed unlike the relaxations available previously and the restrictions made a comeback in view of continuing surge in virus cases in the city and its peripheral districts.

“People, for buying essentials, should walk to shops and confine themselves to their neighbourhood. If use of vehicles was found and if they go to far away areas, the vehicles will be seized,” police commissioner Viswanathan said.

Recorded messages are broadcast through loudspeakers fitted on the drones that have been deployed in several areas for effective monitoring, he said.